Randomwilmonfan - Whimsical Longings

quick summary of young royals

I really appreciate this take & interpretation. These lines from Wille in S1 & S2 ("you're the only one I can talk to") have always kinda bothered me even though they're really realistic so simultaneously I also appreciate them. I agree they're not intentionally manipulative, but to me they are evidence of some deeply problematic dynamics still at play (which Wille works through by the end of S2).

To me, these are examples of times Wille is trying to be vulnerable and reach out... but is not doing so in a particularly emotionally aware or empathetic way. It's all about him. He's still working on developing the important skill of mentalization, which makes sense both because he's a teen + because he was raised as royalty. These statements are all oriented around his needs (to not feel alone, to have someone to talk to) rather than about Simon or about something mutual between the two of them.

I know people love the St. Lucia hug & kiss, but tbh if I'd been Simon, I would have been pissed and would NOT have hugged him then. Like: You don't have anyone else to talk to? Honestly that's a you problem - sorry. You should stick up for me & have my back because you want what's best for me, not just because you want what's best for YOU (and don't want to lose your only confidante).

A more empathetic & emotionally intelligent communication approach would have been, for example, "I don't want to lose you because I care about you + *also* I don't want you to have to get kicked out of school. That would be messed up and I don't want you to experience messed up things. I want to show you that I care about you by putting you first and proving I'll advocate for you." If I'd been Simon, I would have preferred that statement a whole lot! But I think it's useful & very telling that that's *not* what he got. Yet.

But also Willie is manipulating Simon telling him that and it worked in season 1 but not in season 2 and i think that was Lisa’s intention. Re “you are the only I can talk to”

The post in question Your ask is so interesting that I had to go back and rewatch the scene. Is what he's doing emotional manipulation? I disagree, but not by much. Wille isn't consciously or subconsciously trying to make Simon feel guilty so he doesn't leave him. Instead, he's being vulnerable and open, sharing his own fear.

Neither does he use a "pity my poor feelings" strategy, which is another manipulative way of gaining sympathy. He knows what he did to Alexander is wrong. He admits to being selfish.

Even if it wasn't manipulative, what he did and said was not okay at all. That's underscored by the specific lyrics of Samurai Swords being played when Simon walks over to hug him, so crucial they're texted: "I am leaving, I'm unleashing, I unravel to the leeches, I'm unpleasant, I'm not loving, I'm not loving".

It's a genious song choice btw, because it both explains the characters' feelings about themselves, it's also massive foreshadowing.

What I love about that scene isn't that Simon is hugging a distressed Wille, it's that it so clearly shows that Wille is aware that his behaviour is very far from ok, and that the music drives this point home.

Would like to gently remind everyone that in less than a year Wille had to transfer schools against his will, got made fun of for the club fight on social media, got hazed in an incredibly traumatizing way, lost his brother, learned shit about his brother, been betrayed by someone he thought he could trust (because of his brother), fell in love, was outed very publicly, had a recording of him having sex leaked, was forced into the closet by his own mother, lost the boy he loved, came out to the entire world, had to take on a bigger role as the Crown Prince, never got time to grieve, continues to get manipulated by his mother and the court, is hounded by the press and just 17. And there’s probably more I could mention.

Yes, of fucking course he isn’t perfect. He also grew up in a super toxic environment where he didn’t learn shit about controlling his emotions or healthy communication. But he’s trying and willing to learn. I really don’t get why he’s being judged as harshly.

i do think edvin and omar are some variation of soulmates. that they met and instantly felt safe with each other, and four years later are talking about how they can continue to work with each other now that their project is ended. it's beautiful.

Even the shift in power dynamics between Wilhelm and Simon is so well done that I can't help but talk about it.

At first Simon is the confident one. He is out and proud guy and knows who he is. So he is the one to ask Wilhelm to come to Rosh's soccer match and he is the one who initiates their first kiss. Whereas Wilhelm is shy and stammering and he literally trips over is own feet because he is busy watching Simon.

But after they have sex their relationship dynamics changes and Wilhelm becomes the more confident one because now he knows what he wants or rather who he wants (Simon). Now he is the one pulling Simon back in the woods to share a sneaky kiss. While Simon can't even name his fishes without stuttering.

The shift is masterfully done that it makes me want to scream in elation. I love that I can pull out any scene from Young Royals and find a deeper meaning.

happy boys 🥹❤️

Young Royals S2: A Summary

Wilhelm: “Wow. Can’t believe I’m going to burn the entire Swedish monarchy to the ground for this nerdy little choir boy I met six months ago.” Literally everyone else: “You don’t have t-” Wilhelm: “No, I’m gonna.”

we as a fandom do not acknowledge Simon’s trauma nearly enough and it pisses me off, especially given how much attention Wilhelm’s gets. And don’t get me wrong obviously it should and it’s super important, and yes the show does focus more on Wilhelm’s trauma and mental health issues more than it does Simon, BUT!!!!!! it was really damn interesting how so many of y’all started hating on Simon in s2 without even considering that he’s been traumatised by his drug and alcohol addicted dad who probably used to promise again and again that he would get better and then go back on it. AND OH IDK maybe that triggered something in him when wilhelm immediately went back on his promise not to say anything abt the video. Sara explicitly says it when she says that Simon has given their dad multiple chances and their dad always betrayed them. Don’t ever let me catch y’all ignoring the complexity of Simon’s character.

Quietly losing my mind over the fact that Elon Musk has straight up orchestrated a coup of our executive branch and like....I don't even know what, if any, system we have in place to fix this. Like... He's just taken control of the money and locked out the actual appointed officials. What the fuck.

my favourite thing is characters who just met the person theyre literally going to be wildly in love with for the rest of their lives and theyre like “:/ they’re not all that” this is so embarrassing for u